The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-04-09
From Montana,
GALLOWAY RANcH, Upper Bitter Root
Montana Territory, March !.

Montana territory, Mtrch g. }
EDITOR FRgE TRADLR;-Thinking that
some Of my old democratic friends might
latitude, will avail myself of this opporrun-
ity through your valuable paper, which |
have taken for the last forty years, Of Civ.
ing them a few items. | am located sixty
five miles up the Bitter Root valley from
Mssoula. This valley is from one to FIVE miles
wide, not including the foot hills; and ex,
tends about twenty FIVE miles further up to
the mountain leading to Big Hole, Its very
fertile, producing wheat, oats, barley, and
vegetables OF all kinds in great abundance {;
but the greater portion of the business is
stock raising, consisting Of horses, cattle
and sheep, which are grazed on the foot
hills for about nine months in the year. Old
settlers say the past winter has been about
the hardest they have ever known, although
it has seemed short and light to me- Feed
ing commenced about Christmas and has
continued up to this time; with from two to
three feet of snow, but not very cold, only a
few days below zero-l6o being the lowest.
The snow is now fast disappearing and the
foot hills are getting bare The ground is
not frozen.
The n. p. r. r. made survey through
here last summer, and expect 10 build the
coming season. Their object is to get a
shorter and more direct line to Portland.
The n. p. has also run line up the valley
from Missoula and will build this season.
Speaking Of railroads reminds me Of how
different it is at the present time from what
it was in the forties and fifties, when it took
US three or four days to go to Springfield
] recollect of attending a convention there
when French was nominated for governor
There were eight delegates from La Sale Co.
Among the number was Reddick, Wash
Armstrong, Col Bashbour, b. C. Cook, | be
iieve, kilduf, myself and two others whom
| do not recollect. 1t was about the middle
of February We hired Lyman with four
horse team to take US down. They were to
60 by the way Of La Sale and Peru, and
take me up to Maj. Newtons, where TOniCa
now stands. The river was very high, and
at Peru the leaders jumped Of the ferry
boat and were drowned. They then char.
tered another four horse team and got to
Newton's about four o'clock. and as far as
Magnolia the first night think we were
three days more going to Springfield. We
had rather stormy meeting, but got through
all right in two or three days and started
home. b. c. Cook deserted US, as he after
wards did the democratic party, and came
home in the stage. A Mr. Little from Joliet
took his place. lie died few years after.
wards. He was perfect gentleman in every
respect.
Another convention | recollect of attend.
ing was when La Sale, Kendall and the
state Of Grundy constituted this senatorial
and representative district; and the La Sale
county convention was called at the same
river was high, the wind blew and it showed
all day, so that the most Of the delegates
from the south sile Of the river could not
get over. We were quartered at Marshall
Miller's, under the bluff with nothing to
drink stronger than mineral spring water.
The wind went down with the sun, and we
got over after night. If we had stormy
day, we had siormier night in convention.
The next day, about noon, the district con
ventiOn broke up in row, without making
any nominations. The county convention
was then called to order with Lowell Kimball
in the chair motion was made to adjourn
sine die, which was carried SO quick that it
would make your head swim. | forgot to
say that 2. A. Armstrong was the delegate
to the state convention, and went through
on horseback.
So much for old times and old acouain
tances. While many who took part iu the
affairs of that day have crossed the dark |
river, others have removed TO distant states
and territories. Some few are left to DO !
battle for the great principals of democracy
Among that number may be mentioned such !
names as Wash Armstrong Sam. Raymond,
the Osmans, the Shavers, the PARIS, the
HOffmans, and others that | do not remem
Der. There are also such as ESQ Baldwin,
Samuel Lewis, Vim. Dickermau, and many
others, although differing in a political
point of view, whom | highly esteem as
friends and good citizens.
In conclusion, allow me to congratulate
you on the return Of La Sale county to
democratic county; and be prepared to in
crease your majority in 1888, but do not
make such mistake as you did last fall with
my friend Barton. L. NJ. GALLOWAY.